Google patents hologram enabled Google Glass

Google Glass may have dropped off the radar, but Google is still hard at work on the project behind closed doors. The tech giant has recently filed for a new patent that enables the wearable head-gear to display holographic projections.

Instead of the flat display beamed into the wearer’s eye with the current generation, the new patent would allow for a device to overlay CGI on top of the real world, to create a three dimensional heads up display. This technology would open up Google Glass as an augmented reality platform, offering something a little closer to Microsoft’s Holo Lens. The new design also apparently allows for a wilder field of view, is more efficient and easier to wear.

Augmented reality has plenty of useful and entertaining applications. Examples could include real time in-view navigation or traffic tips, 3D interactive user interfaces for work or social platforms, and, of course, playing games in your living room.

Google seems pretty heavily invested in the idea of augmented reality, heaving led a half-billion funding round for Magic Leap, a company that works in augmented reality gaming content production. The company released its SDK with support for a number of 3D game engines earlier in the year. Perhaps Magic Leap will end up designing content for Google’s holographic headset.

Of course, patents don’t always result in final products. While it is likely that Google is experimenting with this type of technology right now, it may or may not end up in a future consumer version of Google Glass.